Reaction can to cover joining method

• US 5,490,689 A
• Filed: 01/05/1995
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Russell P., Garner, Brett R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/369,199
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/731, 280/732, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

In a passenger side air bag module assembly, a reaction can is attached and correctly positioned with reference to a module cover or chute by providing a flange on the can with apertures into which protruberences on the module cover may be inserted, thereby joining the can to the cover without the use of screws or rivets or welding.

Claims

1. In a passenger side airbag module assembly consisting of a reaction can and a cover or chute adapted to be installed into an automotive vehicle, the improvement which comprises:

a reaction canister having walls which terminate in an open mouth, said walls including two planar sidewalls and two planar endwalls, said sidewalls extending beyond the extremity of said endwalls, each of said sidewalls being bent to form a flange substantially normal to the planar portions of said sidewalls, thereby defining a flange extending outwardly from the mouth of said canister,

apertures provided in portions of said sidewalls adjacent to the mouth of said canister, a module cover or chute having an inner end adapted to be installed in a recess in the dashboard of said vehicle and an outer end adapted to be inserted into the mouth of said canister;

said cover or chute including two endwalls and two sidewalls,

a web on an exterior surface of each of said sidewalls adjacent to the outer end of said cover/chute and integral with said sidewalls,

blocks integral with said web and depending from said web, said blocks being shaped to be inserted into the apertured in the flanges of said reaction canister, and bores extending transversely through said blocks and a rod inserted through said bores to secure said blocks to said reaction canister,

whereby said cover/chute may be assembled to said reaction canister without the use of screws, rivets, nuts, or welding and whereby the load during deployment of an airbag in said canister is distributed over a wide area defined by said reaction canister flange and said cover/chute web.

2. The invention of claim 1 including draft surfaces on said blocks to facilitate insertion of said blocks into said apertures.

3. The invention of claim 1 including a bent portion of said canister flange, partially encircling said rod.